Odisha farmers up in arms over pension, budgetary allocation

Puri: Alleging State Government’s laidback attitude towards various demands, thousands of farmers under the aegis of Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) took to streets in Puri today.

Demanding fulfilment of an 18-point charter of demands, farmers from 11 blocks of Puri district took out a rally from Gundicha Temple to Puri Collectorate. The agitating farmers also submitted a memorandum to the district Collector addressed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Farmers alleged that despite allocations in the state budget, they are not getting any benefits.

“We demand that the farmers should be provided with Rs 1500 old age pension monthly. Moreover, a farmer protection allowance of Rs 5000 per month should given to 36 lakh farmers which would require a budgetary allocation of Rs 21,600 crore,” said farmer leader, Akshay Kumar.

“They have submitted their demands to the Chief Minister through the district Collector. Those demands that can be addressed at our level will be sorted out and for others, the CM will be apprised,” informed Puri Sub Collector, Uddhav Charan Sahoo.